STORY: Crisis deepens in Sudan's "makeshift capital" as war strains resources
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 9, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 11, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:33
LOCATION: PORT SUDAN, Sudan
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of people, streets, vehicles, markets and a transport station in Port Sudan
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ILHAM IDRIS GASMALLA, Red Sea State's minister of social welfare
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMED AL-FATEH EZZEDDINE, Merchant in Port Sudan
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MOATAZ IBRAHIM, Bus driver in Port Sudan
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): AHMED MOHAMED TAHIR, Red Sea State's minister of industry

STORYLINE:

As Sudan's capital Khartoum remains engulfed in a devastating war, Port Sudan, the capital city of eastern Red Sea State, has emerged as a critical refuge.

Since hostilities erupted in April 2023, the coastal city has become a sanctuary for thousands of displaced Sudanese, with its population swelling and resources strained under the weight of the crisis.
   
Now serving as a hub for government operations, diplomatic missions, and humanitarian aid organizations, the city is grappling with a growing demand for essential services.

"We have nearly 105,000 displaced people residing in shelters here," said Ilham Idris Gasmalla, the Red Sea State's minister of social welfare. "Additionally, about 44,448 families have been hosted by local households, and thousands more have rented homes in the city."

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ILHAM IDRIS GASMALLA, Red Sea State's minister of social welfare
"Yes the services provided in the city under these circumstances are not complete, but cover a great part of the existing gap as a result of this war and the lack of many requirements."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMED AL-FATEH EZZEDDINE, Merchant in Port Sudan
"There are price hikes, including the rise in the exchange rate, because all of these products come from abroad. Therefore, the rise in the exchange rate of the currency, the rise in the exchange rate of the customs dollar, and the increase in rents have led to this price hike in the market, while the goods are no longer within the reach of the customers."
   
Access to drinking water has become a critical issue. The collapse of the Arbaat Dam near Port Sudan in August has only worsened an existing shortage. Residents now rely heavily on desalination plants, which struggle to meet demand.
   
Port Sudan's infrastructure is also buckling under pressure, with dilapidated roads and an overwhelmed transportation system.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): MOATAZ IBRAHIM, Bus driver in Port Sudan
"There is an increase in fuel prices, and the prices of spare parts have also increased due to the war, and have become expensive now. This is the reason behind the rise in transportation fees."
   
Efforts are underway to address some of these challenges. Ahmed Mohamed Tahir, the Red Sea State's minister of industry, said the government is seeking partnerships to establish local factories in essential sectors, aiming to reduce reliance on costly imports.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Arabic): AHMED MOHAMED TAHIR, Red Sea State's minister of industry
"The state is seeking to attract new industrialists and fill in the gap resulting from the absence of a large number of factories and industries that were in Khartoum."
   
Located about 500 miles northeast of Khartoum on the Red Sea, Port Sudan is Sudan's main port and has now become a central refuge in the wider conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The violence, which has claimed over 24,850 lives and displaced millions, continues to cast a long shadow over the nation.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Port Sudan, Sudan.
(XHTV)